CHICAGO Dec 7 (Reuters) - Russia wants U.S. pork and beef
exported to that country to be tested and certified free of the
feed additive ractopamine, the U.S. Meat Export Federation said
on Friday.

USMEF said that since the U.S. Department of Agriculture did
not have a testing and certification program in place for
ractopamine, the Russian requirement could effectively halt U.S.
pork and beef exports to the country by Saturday.

The federation said that more than 210 shipping containers
of U.S. pork and beef valued at more than $20 million were
currently on their way to Russia.

"...this new requirement effectively means that the Russian
market will be closed to pork and beef exports beginning this
Saturday (December 8)," the federation said in an email to
members that was obtained by Reuters.

USMEF spokesman Joe Schuele confirmed the email.

"The deadline is concerning because of an inability to meet
this paperwork requirement," said Schuele.

A USDA spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
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